Re: [http-state] Minor things concerning draft-ietf-httpstate-cookie-01

[Ian Hickson <[e-mail]>]

On Tue, 12 Jan 2010, Adam Barth wrote:
> On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 2:54 AM, Georg Koppen <[e-mail]> wrote:
> >>> 5) Section 5 says that there are some algorithms specified for some
> >>> tasks concerning the cookie protocol but the user agents do not have to
> >>> follow these ("user agents are free to implement the cookie
> >>> protocol..."). But, for instance in Section 5.1.1., there it says "The
> >>> user agent MUST use the following algorithm..." Thus, am I free to
> >>> implement it differently or not? It's a bit confusing...
> >>
> >> The operative requirement is:
> >>
> >>       <t>Although some parts of the cookie protocol are specified
> >>       algorithmically, user agents are free to implement the cookie protocol
> >>       in any manner as long as their resultant behavior is "black-box"
> >>       indistinguishable from a user agent that implements the protocol as
> >>       described.</t>
> >>
> >> Is there some way we can be clearer that user agents are free to
> >> implement the protocol however they like?
> >
> > Why MUST the user use these algorithms? Wouldn't it be enough if the
> > user MAY use them? I mean, they are free to implement the protocol
> > however they want to do it, provided they come to the same results.
> 
> The goal is to require that they come up with the same results.  I
> guess we could say something more elaborate each time.  It just seems
> a bit wordy.  Any suggestions for text to use?

HTML5 uses:

# Conformance requirements phrased as algorithms or specific steps may be 
# implemented in any manner, so long as the end result is equivalent. (In 
# particular, the algorithms defined in this specification are intended to 
# be easy to follow, and not intended to be performant.)

 -- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
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